Please note I haven't listed any prices
here. This is because the links will take you to the relevant entry in the amazon.co.uk
catalogue, which will give the up-to-date price (usually substantially discounted): this
may change at short notice.

Review
(www.wineanorak.com)
If
you want evidence of how much the world of wine has changed over the
last decade, then compare this long-awaited update of Tom Stevenson's
Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia with the second edition, published 10
years ago in
1991. 480 pages have become 600, and the text has been largely
rewritten. Such is the pace of change in the world of wine that the
third edition (1997) now seems antediluvian, and no doubt
in three or four years' time, this new version will be just as badly in
need of an updateso it looks like Tom will be gainfully employed
for many years yet. Overall, this Encyclopedia is a remarkable
achievement. Fully
illustrated with plenty of maps and photographs, there's a wealth of
information here that successfully bridges the gap between the needs
of the hardened geek and the enquiring beginner. The first 50 pages provide fairly standard reference
material on subjects such as how wine is made, tasting techniques and
grape varieties. The rest of the book takes us on a tour of the wine
regions of the world. The prime focus is on appellations: after a
general introduction, each region and subregion is described in detail,
with a selection of the leading producers highlighted. Producer
profiles are included for some of the key regions; to me, this is one
of the most useful features, and I wish there could have been more.
Each section includes a selection of the author's favourite wines from
that region, adding a personal voice that doesn't interfere with
attempted objectivity elsewhere. Throughout, Stevenson writes
entertainingly and clearly; he's not afraid of expressing strong
opinions where necessary, but when he does, they always seem to be
defensible. Take, for instance, his views on how German wines can
improve their tarnished image, and his suggested way forward for the English wine
industry. I've spent the last few days browsing effortlessly through
this book, and although I've only really scratched the surface, it has
already become an
indispensable reference source. Criticisms? I imagine a lot of
interesting material never made it into the final 600 pages, and my
only regret is that we don't have access to this. I'd be particularly
keen on more producer profiles. As an aside, the almost-simultaneous
publication of the latest edition of Hugh
Johnson's Wine Atlas (now under Jancis Robinson's wing) should set
up an interesting head-to-head. Many wine geeks will probably end up
buying both. On this evidence, the Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia will be
hard to beat.

Amazon.co.uk
You have to have a real fizz fetish to buy this for yourself, but it's a great present for
someone who has more than just a passing interest in posh sparkling wine and who owns a
large, glamorous coffee table.

That's not to say that all the wines featured are posh, but it would be too sadistic to
put a review of Laurent-Perrier's Cuvée Grand Siècle 1952 (or the more readily available
1990) in front of a Champagne fan who couldn't afford to buy a bottle. Tom Stevenson has
very forceful opinions and great technical tasting abilities. His beautifully put together
reference book has been exhaustively researched and his knowledge of people, places and
wines that feature here is second-to- none. If there's a criticism, it would be that the
book lacks heart.

The author has had more expertise in sparkling wines than any other style--his
specialist subject would deny Magnus Magnuson of any "passes". His book, Champagne,
was a milestone on the topic and won him just one of his current holding of 22 literary
awards. The book has been produced in association with Christies, for whom he gives an
annual Champagne Master Class. Buy the book and a few bottles of the most highly
recommended sparklers; invite a few friends 'round; forget the Master Class.

Synopsis
An encyclopedia covering the sparkling wines of the world.

The author, Tom Stevenson , 13 January, 1999
I loved Amazon's inhouse review, despite the comment about the book lacking heart
(obviously I don't agree, but it would be churlish to complain after all the other praise
and, what the heck, I believe in freedom of speech anyway!). When compiling an
encyclopedia, an author is obliged to go into detail about every aspect of the subject.
Furthermore, an encyclopedia about Champagne and sparkling wine must include all the
producers, not just the best. If you're looking for the most comprehensive reference on
the subject, look no further, but if you want a buyer's guide, the The Millennium
Champagne & Sparkling Wine Guide is the book for you. Hopefully there will be a lot of
people out there who have a need for both. While I'm at it, I might as well say that this
is the book that proves "the English invented Champagne". It's not a new story.
I mentioned it in CHAMPAGNE (Sotheby's Publications) 12 years ago, but it is the first
time that the document proving the point has been published, which is why this became the
first wine book to warrant a leader in the Guardian. While this upset Le Figaro, which
accused me of trying to burn Dom Pérignon (not the most level-headed, rational argument
to try and shoot me down with), the French were the first to award my book a prize - Best
Wine Book of 1998 at the Salon International du Livre Gourmand in Périgueux - which I
thought was very magnanimous of them.